Water-purification apparatus.



G. H. GIBSON. WATER PURIFICATION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.22,191&

1,119,008. Patented Dec.1,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEY G. 'H. GIBSON. WATER PURIFICATION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1913.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

4 SHBETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR 2% zm Mei WW BY 3 weak,

H. GIBSON. WATER PURIFICATION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION TILED BBPT. 22,1913.

-Patented-Dec. 1, 1914,v

- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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WATER 1011111011101 APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 813F122, 1913 Y Patented Dec. 1,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IQVENTOR l ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. GIBSON, 0F MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH S. LOVERIN G WHAR'ION, WILLIAM S. HALLOWELL, ,AND JOHN G. JONES, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, DOING BUSINESS UNDER THE FIRM-NAME 0F HARRISON SAFETY BOILER WORKS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-P URIFICATION APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented l )ec. 1, 1914.

Application filed September 22, 1913. Serial No. 791,004.-

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, GEORGE H. GIBSON, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-.

siding in Montclair, in the countyof Essex and State of New J ersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Purification Apparatus, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to-the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

visions for heating the water, and admixing therewith a chemical'purifying reagent or reagents prior to the admission of the water to the settling chamber.

'A primary object of my present invention is to combine with such apparatus, means for insuring a sufiicient supply of water from the settling chamber to the boiler feed pump, or like device supplied with water, not only in normal operation when the filter freely passes all of the water required, but also, when, by reason of the clogging of the filter, the latter fails to pass any, or-passes a part only of the water required, and also during the cleaning or back washing of the filter.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for automatically starting the filter washingoperation when the clogging of the filter makes this desirable, and

'- for restoring the apparatus to its normal operating condition .When'the filter washing operation is completed.

In many cases it is desirable to employ water taken from the settling chamberin washing out the filter, thus making a separate reservoir on supply of filter cleaning water unnecessary; and a specific object of my invention is to combine simple and effective means for accomplishing this with the apparatus employed for attaining the previously mentioned objects of my invention. 4

charged through the pipe A The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, and of the advantages possessed by it, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and' descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described forms of apparatus in which my invention may be embodied.

Of the drawings: Figure l is a sectional elevation of a preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a view taken similarly to Fig. 1, illustrating apparatus having a modified form of means for automatically controlling certain of the valves; Fig. 3 is a view taken on a larger scale than Fig. 2 ofa portion of the valve operating mechanism shown in Fig. 2; Fig.

taneously adjusted; and Fig. 5 is a view taken similarly to Fig. 1, illustrating a modification in which a separate" reservoir for the water for washing out the-filter is provided.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings comprises superimposed heating, settling and filter chambers 'A, B and C, respectively. The water heater of which the chamber A. forms the heating chamber is of the well known open feed water heater type, and, as shown, comprises a trough A into which the water to be treated is introduced, and from which it overflows onto the usual splash trays A". The heating chamber is open at the bottom through the port A to; the settling chamber B, and immediately above the port A is located a trough A into which a suit- .able chemical purifying agent or agents,

such as soda ash, lime, or the like, 1s dis- Steam for heating the water admitted to the chamber A is supplied through the steam supply pipe B which opens into the chamber A through the usual oil separator C. The

'the pipe F and o ened latter drains through the pipe G into the float chamber D, which also receives the discharge from the overflow connection B provided in the upper end of the chamber B to limit the maximum height of water level in the chamber B. V A float D located in the chamber D controls the operation of a valve" D which regulates the dischar e fromthe' chamber D into the waste pi e which, as shown, is connected at its ibwer end to the sludge pipe F running to the sewer or suitable sump. The pipe F leads from the apexof the conical or hopper bottom B of the settling reservoir B. F represents a valve controlling the flow through romtim'e to time to permit the slu ge collecting at the bottom of the reservoir B to be washed out. The water. is withdrawn from the chamber B through a conical member G which has its upper and smaller end connected near the upper end "of the chamber B by the hori-" zontal pipe-G to the pipe H, which 'dis-. charges at its lower end into the upper por tion of the filter chamber C above the filter bed C therein. I represents the usual col-' lecting pipe' provided withthe usual hooded or strainer inlets 71 located in the bottom of the filter chamber and connected externally of the latter through the normally open valve I to thedischarge pipe IA runnmg to the boiler feed pump or other device or place for utilizing or disposing of the filtered water. The water to be treated is supplied to the heater A in normal operation through the pipe K, the flow throu h which is controlled by the valve K. T e

latter is automatically operated to regulate the supply of water in correspondence to thedemand, by means of afloat J and sult;

able connections thereto. The float J works in a float chamber J which is connectedto the pipe IA by the pipe J and is preferably located v somewhat above the Cpipe IA and considerably 'below the pipe A pipe L is connected at its lower end to the pipe IA I and is connected at its upper end to the top of the pipe H through the looped portion L, the top of which is above the level of the pipe G. This pipe is. employed tosupply all or a part of the water required under certain conditions, when the clogging of the filter prevents some or all of the water needed from passing through the filter;

In normal operation the water passes from the settling chamber B through the L collector G and pipes G and H'to the top or inlet side of the filterchamber C, and after passing through the filter bed in the latter passes through the pipe I and normally open valve I to the service discharge pipe IA. ,The normal water level indicated by the line b-b which is maintained in'the chamber B is fixed by and will pass through the pipe G. The head or pressure: in t e pipe H will correspond to the difference in evel between the pipe IA and the) level indicated by the line 'jj passing through the float chamber J, the float J operatlng to open and close the valve K as the water level in the chamber J falls below or rises to the level of the line i -j. The head available for forcing the water throu h the'filter chamber will thus correspon v approximately to the difference between the levels of. the lines b-b and As the filter bed C becomes foul and its resistance to' pipe IA t rough the pipe L, thus insuring an adequate: supply of water to the pipe IA at this time. I Y

' Z represents iping connecting the top of the loop L and the top of the float chamber J to .the heatingchamber A. This piping serves to prevent a siphon flow through the pipe L, and to prevent the formation of an airspocket in theupper end of the float chamber J restricting the admission of waterto the chamber through the pipe J.

Thefprovisions for cleanin or back washing the filter bed 0 compnsera pipe GA connected. at its upper end to the conical collector G, preferably at a level somewhat below that of the pipe G, and connected at its lower end by. the normally closed valve GA to the end of the pipe I remote from the valve I. The back washing provisions also include a pipe M connecting of the filterbed C: to the waste pipe E. Flow through the pipe M is controlled by the normally closed valve M.

N represents; a -p1pe which may be employed if desired' for blowing compressed air into the bottom of the filter chamber during the back .washin}g operation. The flow through the pipe is controlled by a valve N To bring about the reverse flow or back wash throu h the filter bed, the normally open valve I is closed and the normally closed valves GA and M are opened. This permits water to flow from the reservoir B through the pipe GA into the pipe I, from which it passes into the filter chamber at the under sideof the filter bed 0, and after'passing through the latter is carried to waste through the and waste pipe E.- o i Advantageousl I provide means for automatically actuating the valves I, GA

pipe M the filter chamber above the level v N be employed, to start the back washing of the filter, whenever the clogging of the filter makes this necessary, and for restoring .these valves to their normal condition after the reverse flow through the filter bed has continued for a suflicient time.

This I prefer toaccomplish by'means actuated or set into operation by the rise of the water level in the chamber B to a predetermined height, which may Well he at or below the height of water level at which water begins to flow through the looper portion L of the pipe L. The simple and somewhat conventionally illustrated means for automatically shifting the valves, shown by the drawings, comprises a tilting bucket 0 located in a chamber EA draining into the waste pipe E and connected by suitable levers P and P and links P to the operating parts P" of the valves M, GA, I and N. When the bucket O, which is provided with a restricted leakage orifice O at its bottom is ,empty, its weight is insufiicient to overcome the action of a counter weight P which, through the links and levers described, normally maintains the diflerent valves in the condition for normal operation, 71. e., maintains the valve I open and the valves M, GA and N closed. When the bucket O is filled with water, however, its weight overcomes the action of the counter weight and shifts the valve I into the closed position and the valves M, GA and N into their open positions. When thereafter the bucket. empties to a suflicient exto their normal condition.

tent the counter weight restores these valves The bucket O and the'leakage orifice 0 thereof are so proportioned that under normal conditions, the time required for the filled bucket to empty sufliciently to permit the valves to be restored to their normal condition by the counter weight P is suflicient for the cleaning of the filter. The bucket G is automatically supplied with water on the predetermined increase in the height of water level in the chamber B by a pipe Q, which 7 opens to the chamber B at Q at the maximum desired height of water level therein. The lower end of the pipe Q is arranged to discharge into the bucket O. Preferably the pipe Q, is formed with a loop Q roviding a water seal between the ends 0 the pipe. The flow of water out of the chamber B through the pipe GA tends to lower the water level in the chamber B and thus temporarily interrupt the supply of water tothe pipe IA. Assoon, however, 'asthe level falls below the bottom of the pipe G, a normally submerged float R located in the chamber B drops and thereby opens.

a valve GB in a pipe connection GB leading from the collecting cone G to the pipe L at" a level -preferably below that at which the pipe GA is connected to the cone. This unrestricted supplyv of water to the pipe IA from the chamber B tends to raise the pressure in the pipe IA, so that the consequent rise in water level in the float chamber J will cause the closure of the valve KA. To insure a sufiicient supply of water at this timefor the back washing operation, and for the pipe IA, the float R is also connected to and operates the valve KA in the branch raw water supply pipe KA leading to the trough. A of the heater A. The valve KA opens and closes as the float 'R falls and rises to its uppermost position. When the valve I is open and the valves M, GA and N are closed at the completion of the back washing operation, the pipe GB continues to furnish wa- '-ter to the pipe IA until the rise of water level in the reservoir B operates the float R to close the valves GB and KA. As shown, the float R is set not to close these valves until the Water level in the reservoir B has almost reached the height at which water begins to flow through the pipe G.

The temporary interruption in the supply of water to the pipe IA, occurring with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, while the water levelin'the chamber B is falling from the height at which the back washing operation -'is automatically started, to the height at which the float R drops and opens the valve GB, is so slight under ordinary conditions his as to be of little practical importance. This to it, externally of the chamber B, a depending arm R which in the normal condition of the apparatusengages the operating lever G of the valve GB and holds the latter closed against the operation of the spring G which tends to open the valve. The arm R is normally held in the position in which its lower end engages the'lever G by a spring G. A bell crank lever R pivoted at-R and provided at the free end of one arm with a hook or projection R, has the free end of its other arm connected by a link P to one of the leversP connected to the bucket O. The connection between the bell crank lever B and the bucket O is such that when thevbucket O is filled and its iii

lit

40 of the pipes and valves GA, GA, GB, GB,

dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, in which the lower end of the arm no longer engages the valve lever G. This permits the valve GB to open. When the bucket 0, after emptying, is returned to its normal position the arm R will be moved by the spring Gr back into line with the lever Gr so that when the float R, then in its lowermost position, is thereafter raised by the return of the water level in the chamber B to the normal working level, the valve GB will be closed.

. Instead of operating the various valves for bringing about and discontinuing the back washing operation automatically,- as by such means as are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, these valves or some of them may be operated manually, and in Fig. 4 I have shown an arrangement by which all of-the valves are operated manually but simultaneously. As shown in Fig. 4:, the valves M, GA, I and N are operated by link and lever connections as in Fig. 1, but the primary lever PA, instead of being connected to an automatic operating, device asthe'corresponding lever P 1s connected in Fig. 1, is connected to the manually actuated'lever S. As shown in Fig. 4, the valves KA and GB are also connected to the manually actuated lever S so that these valves are opened and closed at the same time as the valves M, GA and N.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated the use of certain features of my invention in apparatus in which the water for back washing the filter is not taken directly from-the settling chamberv but from an auxiliaryreservoir' provided for the purpose. The apparatus shown in Fig." 5 differs from that shown in Fig. 1 primarily in the omission KA and KA of Fig. 1, and in the addition of the elevated storage reservoir T, the discharge pipe T from the latter connected to the rear end of the pipe I by the valve T and the supply pipe T to reservoir T. With .the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 it is necessary also to provide a normally open valve H in the pipe H. As shown, the valve H is connected to the bucket 0 so as to be closed thereby during the back washing operation. The valve T? which is normally closed is connected to the bucket 0 so as to be opened by the latter during the back washing operation.v The supply pipe T for 'thereservoir T, which maylea'd from the delivery side of the boiler feed pump. V,

drawing water through pipe IA, is closed by the float operated valve T when the reservoir T is filled to the desired level.

".With the apparatus shown in Fig.5, the

water level in the-settling chamber will be maintained at the height at which overflow 1 through the loop L and pipe L will occur.

during the backwashing operation, but will quickly return to the normal level when the valves are shifted at the conclusion of that operation.-

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled'in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention, and that in some cases certain features of my in'ventionmay be used without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-' ters Patent, is:

' 1. In a water purifying system, the combination with a settling chamber, of a closed filter chamber, means for normally passing water from said settling chamber to said filter chamber, an outlet pipefrom said filter chamber, a valve controlling the flow of water out of said filter chamber through said pipe, means for establishing a reverse. flow through said filter chamber from said settling chamber and a by-pass about said filter chamber and valve, connecting said discharge pipe and settling chamber.

2. In a water purifying system, the combination with asettling chamber, a closed filter chamber and connections through which water normally flows from said settling chamber to and through the filter chamber, of valved connections for establishing' a reverse flow through said filter chamber from said settling chamber, and

verse flow from. said settli ng chamber through said filter; chamber to clean the filter therein, and means responsive to the height of waterilevel in said settling chamher for automatically adjusting said valved connections to establish said reverse flow. on

a predetermined rise in said water level above the water level normally maintained in said chamber.

A. In a water purifying system, the com{ bination with a settling chamber, a filterv chamber, a connection leadin from said settling chamber to the inlet si e of said filter chamber, and a discharge plp'e leading from the outlet side of said filter chamber, of a valve controlling the flow out of said filter chamber through said discharge pipe, a

valved connection lead ng to the-outlet side 1 of said filter" chamber from said settling chamber and opening to the latter at a level below the normal Water level therein, and a valved connection leading to said discharge pipe from said settling chamber and means set in operation by predetermined rise filter chamber, a discharge pipev leading from the outlet side of said filter chamber, a valve controlling the flowout of said filter chamber through said discharge pipe, a bypass about said filter chamber and valve connecting said settlin chamber to said discharge pipe and including a portion located above the normal water level in said settling chamber, a second by-pass about said filter chamber and valve connecting said discharge pipe to said settling chamber at a level below the normal water level in said settling chamber, a valved connection between said settling chamber and the outlet side of said filter chamber, a valved discharge connection leading from the inlet side of said filter chamber, and means responsive to the height of Water level in said settling chamber and set in operation by a rise of water level above the normal level for closing said valve and opening said valved connections and said second by-pass.

6. In a water purifying system, the combination with a settling chamber, a filter chamber, a connection leading from said -b settling chamber to the inlet side of said the outlet side of said filter chamber, a valve controlling the flow out of said filter chamber through said discharge pipe, a by-pass about said filter chamber connecting said settling chamber to said discharge pipe and including a portion located above the normal water level in said settling'chamber, a second by-pass aboutsaid filter chamber-and valve connecting said discharge pipe to said settling chamber at a level belowthe normal level in said settling chamber, a valved con nection between said settling chamber and the outlet side of said filter chamber, a valved discharge connection leading from the inlet side of said filter chamber, means responsive to the pressure in said discharge pipe normally controlling the admission of.

water to said settling chamber, a supplemental water supply connection to said settling chamber and means responsive to the-height f of water level in said settling chamber for opening saidsupplemental connection whenthe water level in thesettling chamber falls 7 to a predetermined distance below the level normally maintained in said settling reservolr.

7, In a water purifying system, the combination with a settling chamber, a filter chamber, a connection leading from said v settling chamber to the inlet side of said filter chamber, a discharge pipe leading from the outlet side of said filter chamber, a valve controlling the flow out of said filter chamber through said discharge pipe, a bypass about said filter chamber and valve connecting said settling chamber to said discharge pipe and including a portion located above the normal water level in said settling chamber, a second by-pass about said filter chamber and valve connecting said settling chamber to said discharge pipe at a level below the normal level in said settling chamber, a valved connection between said settling chamber and the outlet side of said filter chamber, and a valved discharge connection leading from the inlet side of said filter chamber.

8. In a water purifying system, the combination with a settling chamber, a closed filter chamber, a connection leading from said settling chamber to the inlet side of said filter chamber, a discharge pipe leading from the outlet sideof said filter chamber, a valve controlling the flow out of 'said filter chamber through said discharge pipe, a by-pass about said filter chamber and valve connecting said settling chamber to said discharge pipe, other valved connections to said filter chamber whereby a reverse flow through said filter chamber may be established, and means responsive to the hei ht of water level in said settling chamber an set in operation y a rise of water level therein above the normal level for closing said valve and opening said valved connections.

9. In a water purifying system, the combination with a settling chamber, a closed filter chamber, a discharge pipe, connections whereby water normally flows into said discharge pipe through said filter chamber from said settling chamber, a normally ineffective by-pass about said filter chamber connecting said settling chamber to said discharge pipe, connections whereby a reverse flow through said filter chamber may be established, and means set in operation bya predetermined rise of water level in the settling chamber for preventing the normal flow through said filter chamber and estab lishing a reverse flow through the latter, and for establishing a flow from said settling chamber into said discharge pipe through said by pass.

10. In a water purifying system, the combination with a settling chamber, a closed filter chamber and a discharge pipe, of connections whereby water normally flows into said discharge pipe through saidfilter chamg v ana ee about said filter chamber, connecting said in for preventing said normal flow throngh settling chamber t6 said discharge plpe to the filter chamber and establishing a reverse 1o permit water to flow into the latter from flow through the latter.

- sjaid settling chamber when the normal flow tl'lrough the filter chamber is interrupted, B and means set in operation by a predet'er- Witnesses: mined rise. in water level in the settling NORMAN K. CONDERMAN,

chamber above the normal water level there- ROBERT G. CLIFTON- 

